All posts by Matthijs Vink

Cyber Security Event: make sure you don't get h@cked

Cybersecurity is becoming more important than ever. Are you ready for it?

New legislation such as NIS2 requires action. But what does it mean concretely for your organization? On Thursday, June 19, together with TechoneNL, Rabobank and ThreadStone Cyber Security, we organize an afternoon at the H20 Esports Campus in Purmerend, where we take entrepreneurs and professionals into the world of digital security. Including:

Xander Koppelmans, sharing his personal story as 'the hacked entrepreneur'
René V. and Floris van Zonneveld, Threadstone Cyber Security, discuss NIS2 and show how hackers operate

We will conclude with an enjoyable networking reception. You can find the entire program here. You don't want to miss this!

📍 H20 Campus, Purmerend
📅 Thursday, June 19
🕒 From 2:30 p.m.
👉 You can sign up here.

H20 contribution to the gaming event sector

🚀 Proud of our contribution to the gaming event industry! 🎮

We are pleased to share that we contributed to an important report on the gaming events sector from the Mulier Institute. This report highlights some crucial findings:

The industry needs current and independent market information and ways to measure the (social) impact of gaming events.
A better understanding of the characteristics, motivations and behaviors of players and viewers of gaming events is needed.

Curious about the details? 📊 Click on the link and read the full report:

Gaming Event Sector Report

If you want to bring your ideas or plans to life, send us an email at sales@h20.gg, we have a lot of experience with gaming and events.

Let's shape the future of gaming events together! 💡

Game.co.uk visiting the H20 Esports Campus

H20 Esports Campus

What do the Ziggo Dome, the Johan Cruijff Arena and the H20 Esports Campus have in common? The first two are top venues for music and soccer, while the H20 Esports Campus is the hotspot for esports in the Netherlands. We visited this unique gaming campus, and our eyes fell from one surprise to another. From esports hall and the Red Bull Esports Area to Go!Gaming and a retro gaming exhibit, the H20 Esports Campus is the epicenter of gaming and entertainment in the Netherlands. Read on to find out exactly what this campus is all about and what our extensive tour of this massive building was like.

H20 Esports Campus

What is the H20 Esports Campus?

The H20 Esports Campus in Purmerend is one of the largest and most advanced esports and gaming centers in Europe. The huge complex of more than 12,000 m² offers everything you could want as a gamer, from high-end gaming spots to a huge arena for esports tournaments. It is not just a place for fans to game; it is a center that brings gaming, esports and entertainment together in a way that is unique in the Netherlands.

Esports Stadium

The heart of the campus is the Esports Stadium, a state-of-the-art arena that can accommodate more than 1,200 spectators. This is where the big events take place, such as the Red Bull Home Ground, an international 5-on-5 Valorant tournament that took place in May 2024. The arena is equipped with cool LED screens and audio systems, making it the perfect venue for big gaming events. It's a place where players, fans and streamers gather to enjoy the action, and the atmosphere is always intense.

H20 Esports Campus

GO!GAMING at H20 Esports Campus

Another unique addition to the H20 Esports Campus is the Go!Gaming zone. Here visitors can enjoy a wide range of gaming stations, from the latest games to classic titles. Go!Gaming provides an interactive environment where everyone from casual gamers to hardcore esports fans can test their skills. Whether you come to play or just soak up the atmosphere, Go!Gaming is the ideal place to escape into the world of gaming for a while.

Want to know more about Go!Gaming? Then read our earlier article where we delve deeper into exactly what Go!Gaming has to offer.

VR capabilities

In addition, the H20 Esports Campus also offers VR opportunities. In their VR zone, visitors can immerse themselves in cool virtual reality experiences. Whether it's VR gaming, simulations or even professional training in VR, the H20 offers a platform to discover what the future of gaming has to offer. With VR headsets and a space fully equipped for this technology, visitors can immerse themselves in the virtual world. It is similar to A'DAM VR, although A'DAM VR focuses even more on VR.

What makes the H20 Esports Campus truly special is the combination of the gaming world and community that comes together on a daily basis. It is the ultimate destination for anyone involved in gaming and esports.

H20 Esports Campus Retro space

Our experience in the H20 Esports Campus

We were invited to take a look at the H20 Esports Campus, and it was immediately clear that this place has everything to offer for the gaming and esports community. Upon reception, our tour began with a stop in the campus' retro space. There, the retro gamers in our party went absolutely wild with what they saw. The room was full of classic consoles, vintage games and an impressive collection of retro gaming gear. We even got a chance to sit behind some of those old consoles ourselves. The highlight was talking to Repair-Bas, the passionate retro gamer who maintained the space. Bas told us all about the valuable retro gear that was there and how he carefully repairs and maintains these items.

After the retro space, it was time to move on to another part of campus, which is all about virtual reality (VR). In this building, you can immerse yourself in the future of gaming with VR experiences and even VR escape rooms.

But then came the moment we had actually come for: the huge esports hall. We were welcomed with the game.co.uk logo standing proudly on the huge stage. And I can't help but say that I was really impressed with the space. It is quite obviously a professional esports arena, complete with a 5-on-5 setting on the stage and a grandstand on the side for fans and supporters. The atmosphere was impressive, and it was easy to imagine how big events could be here.

What makes this campus so special is that everywhere you look, you see something related to gaming. From streaming rooms to huge amounts of gaming PCs, the building is full of technology and options for every gamer. Clearly, the H20 Esports Campus is not just a place for events, but a complete hub for the gaming community.

H20 presents the fattest Simracing Arena at International Amsterdam Motor Show

Simracing Arena IAMS 2025

Press release H20 x IAMS

Purmerend, April 2, 2025

H20 presents the fattest Simracing Arena at International Amsterdam Motor Show

The International Amsterdam Motor Show (IAMS) and H20 are joining forces once again for a groundbreaking edition of the Netherlands' largest automotive event. From April 17 to 21, part of the RAI Amsterdam will transform into the largest Simracing Arena to date, where motorsport and gaming come together.

Visitors can check out all the cool cars on display during the event, but it is not possible to drive them themselves. Fortunately, the Simracing Arena offers the opportunity to race in-game anyway! Visitors can participate in various races and enjoy a unique simracing experience designed specifically for both beginners and experienced racers.

Comprehensive program

The five-day event has several highlights.

For example, there are mini-competitions in popular (racing) games such as Forza Motorsport 8 and Rocket League.

Attendees can sim race against each other and some specially invited guests (information to follow!) at any level, on an impressive stage with the very best gear. In addition, attendees can enjoy Xbox fun games such as Gang Beasts, Golf With Your Friends, Overcooked 2 and Human Fall Flat.

There is also a prize pool available worth a total of €3,000, including a Playseat® RedTrophy, Thrustmaster T598 and more.

Accessible to all

To make simracing accessible to a wide audience, H20 is introducing two special promotions:

25% off IAMS admission tickets with code H20IAMS2025
A nationwide "Bring Your Friend" campaign at Go!Gaming locations, where visitors can race with a friend for an hour for €13.90.

Partners

The event is made possible by our lead partner IAMS and our supporting partners Playseat®, Thrustmaster, Black Bananas and Xbox Game Pass.

Practical information

Date: April 17-21, 2025

Location: RAI Amsterdam

Tickets: available at h20.gg/iams (or click on the banner)

Discount code: H20IAMS2025 (25% off)

Hack Your Future - Design the company of the future!

Purmerend, March 5, 2025 - H20, ST.AN & Dutch Affairs are proud to announce 'Hack Your Future'. Hack Your Future is an initiative that challenges young people and students to actively participate in thinking about the future of work. The event offers them a platform to get creative, meet companies, and gain valuable insights that will help them in their future careers.

Hack Your Future is a unique challenge for students from secondary schools, MBO, HBO and universities to design the workplace of the future in a digital visualization. What does the company of the future look like? What is young people's vision of the workplace 10, 25 or even 50 years from now? It is now up to them to find out!

The final event at the H20 Campus in Purmerend

The grand finale of Hack Your Future will take place on the impressive stage of the H20 Campus in Purmerend. Here, students will present their creative ideas in front of a panel of experts and share their vision of the workplace of the future. The best designs will have a chance to win great prizes! Spectators/fans are also welcome.

Getting to know companies in the region

In addition to the exciting finals, students will also have the opportunity during the event to meet leading companies in the region. ST.AN (Stichting Arbeidsmarktstrategie Noordwest-Holland), the sponsor of this event, ensures that a number of top organizations are present to share information about internships, workplaces and the (future) labor market. Hack Your Future is thus an excellent opportunity for students to orient themselves within the work field and for companies to present themselves to and hear from their potential future employees.

Break Out Sessions are also organized by the companies where pupils and students can go for interesting topics such as job training or efficient collaboration, for example.*

*Final program + topics for the Break Out Sessions to follow. Keep an eye on the website!

Sign up and more information

We cordially invite all schools in the region to promote this project to students, whether or not to include it in the curriculum. This is a great opportunity to actively engage students in thinking about the future business, develop 21st century skills and help them prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.

For more information about the event, registration and participating companies, please visit our website or contact us at info@h20.gg.

We hope for great participation and look forward to a fantastic event together with students, businesses and schools!

H20 renews successful partnership with Red Bull!

H20 Esports extends partnership with Red Bull: Continuing to build the future of esports & gaming together

We are proud to announce the renewal of the partnership between H20 and Red Bull. This partnership, entering its 5th year with this agreement resulted in numerous memorable events and productions.

From the start, Red Bull has played an important role in making H20 unique as a stadium for esports and gaming within the Netherlands and Europe. One of the eye-catchers is the Red Bull Esports Area, a specially designed space with ten high-end gaming setups, five of which are on the first floor and five at a height of five meters, where both professionals and enthusiastic gamers can showcase their skills.

The first event in this space, Red Bull Flick, was the first 2v2 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament. The success of this event highlights not only the potential of this collaboration, but also the power of a growing gaming community.

In addition, the collaboration with Red Bull marked a breakthrough in content production for H20, with highlights being the filming of Red Bull Xceptional Player YouTube series and Red Bull Home Ground. These productions, shot entirely within the H20 Event location has opened new doors for our campus in terms of TV and esports productions.

A shared vision for the future
''At H20 we aim to be a home base for the growth of esports and gaming in the Netherlands,'' said Matthijs Vink. ''Red Bull has always supported us in this and we look forward to creating even more productions together and in doing so we continue to build a sustainable future for esports and gaming, with the goal of continuing to inspire our community."

H20 Esports Tech Campus extends partnership with Vissers Legal

Essential support for the development of Dutch gaming talent

H20 is pleased to announce that the collaboration with Vissers Legal, the Sports and Gaming Law specialist in the Netherlands, will be renewed. This collaboration is a crucial part within the Talent Development Program, through which H20 offers gaming talent the opportunity to develop not only as an esporter, but also as a total person.

Vissers Legal joined in 2022 as an official partner of the TOP program and has since played a role in supporting Dutch gaming talent. Vissers Legal shares H20's vision for the future of esports and the development of new talent within it.

A shared vision for talent development
Together with Vissers Legal, we are working on the further realization of our vision: the educational guidance of new gaming talent in the Netherlands towards a future within the esports world. H20 Esports Tech Campus is grateful to Vissers Legal for their valuable contribution within this program. We are committed to continue this initiative and continue to inspire gaming talent in their careers within this growing industry.

Looking ahead: upcoming editions in 2025
In 2025 we look ahead to new editions of the TOP program, where once again we will be looking for the game talent within the Netherlands. H20 invites talents to apply and participate in a program that will make them stronger not only within esports, but also beyond.

The esports world does not have subsidy structures like those that exist in traditional sports, but that should not stand in the way of talent development. Thanks to partners like Vissers Legal, we can offer continuity and quality to our talent programs. Their financial and substantive support makes it possible to give Dutch gaming talents a chance for personal and professional growth.

Rabobank and H20 extend partnership for three years

Building the future together with area development

"We would like to let the campus grow together, in line with the plans the Municipality of Purmerend has for the area development," says Ugur Pekdemir, director of Cooperative Rabobank. "Establishing a hub where tech companies and education know how to find each other creates a recognizable place in the region that we can use to attract young talent, thereby also stimulating business and economic prosperity."

"The fact that the municipality sees opportunities to convert the business park in the Koog into a live/work area offers even more opportunities for the region. As a cooperative bank, together with our partners, we want to make a substantial contribution to welfare and prosperity in North Holland North. The development of the campus fits in perfectly with that."

Technology for a new generation

Rabobank was an important partner of H20 from the beginning. "The fact that a reliable party like Rabobank has supported us from day one gives us tremendous confidence," said Matthijs Vink, co-founder of H20 Esports Campus. "Our campus offers not only entertainment, but also training and growth opportunities for companies. Here we prepare young people for the jobs of tomorrow. In addition, we have had the opportunity to facilitate many conferences and activities for Rabobank to inspire their stakeholders; truly a partnership as desired!"

Unique collaboration contributes to education, innovation and connection in the region

Rabobank has renewed its partner contract with H20 for three years. Five years ago, from the beginning of the establishment of H20, Rabobank joined H20 as a founding partner. From this came the Rabo Esports Stadium Amsterdam, located in the H20 Esports Campus.

This collaboration aims to prepare young people for the jobs of the future, stimulate innovation and support creative tech startups. The success of recent years was a good reason for both parties to continue the cooperation.

A hub for talent and development

The H20 Esports Campus in Purmerend, with more than 12,000 m2 of space, offers a unique environment where young talent comes together. The event location and the Esports Stadium, Europe's largest permanent esports and gaming center, are the heart of this campus. More than 100,000 visitors come there every year.

On the campus, tech talent, gamers and esporters meet, students are trained for jobs in creative technology and startups and innovative companies grow into success stories. Currently, the campus houses more than 40 companies and educational institutions such as Talland College and Hogeschool van Amsterdam work closely with H20.

Focus on tech development
"The application of technology in business is broadening," notes founder Dirk Tuip. "Gamification is a powerful tool that helps companies and schools reach and engage younger audiences. Using game elements in non-game environments can also increase efficiency and improve the customer experience." Ugur Pedemir adds: "For the future-proofing of businesses, it is essential to embrace and deploy technology. "Gamification and other technological innovations not only help companies operate more efficiently, but also help them stay relevant to the new generation."

H20 Esports Campus and BrainsFirst launch innovative talent development partnership!

With the introduction of the NeurOlympics assessments at H20, gamers, athletes and professionals have the opportunity to discover their cognitive skills and talents through gamification.

This collaboration is an important step in combining gaming, science and personal development.

Visitors to the H20 Esports Campus can now participate in the BrainsFirst NeurOlympics, a series of science-based games that provide insight into working memory, stress resistance, spatial awareness and mental flexibility.

What is the NeurOlympics?
The NeurOlympics consists of four games, each measuring a specific aspect of cognitive ability;

Working memory and focus: receive information on skills such as anticipation, imperturbability and attention.
Stress Resilience and Spatial Awareness: Discover how you perform under pressure and interpret your environment.
Reaction time and mental flexibility: How quickly and effectively can you switch between tasks.
Attention Shift and Information Processing: Gain insight into how accurately and efficiently you process information.

After playing the various games, you will receive a Brain Profile, which is a summary of unique cognitive abilities.

Versatile offerings
It's not just aimed at gamers! Thanks to extensive reporting capabilities, the assessments also offer value for a variety of purposes, such as;

Cognitive reports
Behavioral reports
Career Reports
Study choice reports (coming soon)

Future-oriented partnership
''With NeurOlympics, we are bringing an innovative and science-based way of talent development to our campus through gaming and gamification,'' said Matthijs Vink.

Visit the BrainsFirst booth at H20
Visitors to H20 Esports Campus can now try out the BrainsFirst booth and discover their own Brain Profile. Want to learn more or request a quote? Visit h20.gg/brainsfirst/

SG Gerrit Rietveld and H20 join hands again and extend their valuable partnership!

Ever since the start of H20, H20 and SG Gerrit Rietveld have been working together. SG Gerrit Rietveld closely follows the dynamic H20. The development of the Esports Tech Campus ensures that parties not only extend the cooperation, but also intensify it. A beautiful contract has been signed: the partnership is official!

SG Gerrit Rietveld stands for, among other things, appropriate education, vocational orientation or 'Discover your talents, learn with pleasure! and 'Learning by doing'. By collaborating with H20, students can now also actively contribute to events or projects on the H20 Campus, giving them practical experience. In addition, it is enormously valuable that they have the opportunity to learn new skills and develop new insights.

H20 also offers SG Gerrit Rietveld the opportunity to use a wide range of facilities and services, including the possibility of organizing school outings, use of teaching packages and/or meeting rooms.

With the intensification of cooperation, the development of the Esports Tech Campus will also become a major focus point. H20 and SG Gerrit Rietveld will jointly use their expertise to inspire the next generation of technological talents.